Stage-lift flowing device



Oct. 2, 1928. 1,686,262

; A. BOYNTON STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Dec. l0, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l www" d l nvenfoz Oct. 2, 1928.

1,6862 62 A. BOYNTON STAGE LIFT FLOWING DEVICE Filed Deo. 10, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented` Oct. 2, 1928. f

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STAGE-LIFT FLOWING DEVICE.

App'ication med December 1o, 192e. serial No. 153,948.

' This invention relates to stage lift flow-v ing devices especially adapted for use Iin oil and other wells.

' The invention forming the subject matter of this application isintended to provide for the admission of compressed gas or air toa well tubing at a point below the level of the oil therein and to utilize the eX an-b Asion of the compressed gas or air in li ting 'l the fluid in the tubing to the surface.

A further aim is to provide for the introduction of the compressed air or gas into the column of oil in such a manner that lifting units or slugs may be formed promptly upon "5 the admission of the compressed air or gas into the tubing.

Another "aim of the invention. is to provide an induction valve having simple means by which settling mud or the like in the Z0 tubing is prevented from lodging at the air or gas admission point and interfering with f Y the proper functioning of the valve.

y A still further aim of the invention is to provide `an induction valve for stage lift fied construction, reliable in operation, and comparatively chea to manufacture.

Other objects an advantages will be apparent during the course of the following descri tion. i

In t e accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automatic valve.

Figures 2 and 2A are sectional views illustrating a tubing positioned within the casing of-a well and e uipped with induction valves embodied in t e invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through on of the induction valves. In the drawing, thel numeral 5 designates a casing which, as illustrated in Figure 1, has the upper portion thereof provided with a casing head 6 by which the liberation of gas which accumulates in the casing is prevented. Figure 1 illustrates in a general way an automatic control valve by means of which the flowing ofthev well by a compressed fluid such as air or gas is terminated when the level of the fluid the tubing drops below a predetermined point.

Figure 2 illustrates that the tubing 8 has a number of induction valves 9 incorporated therein for the admission of a lifting agentl fiowing devices which is of highly simphsuch as compressed air or gas from the well e uipped with the inventlon or from any ot er well. Incase air is employed a compressor is, of course, necessary.

A suitable number of lengths of pipe may be attached tothe lower end of the tubing to form a settling or sediment receiving ,chamber 10. Mud or other heavy sediment may settle into the chamber 10 and thereby be prevented from interfering with the free movement of the oil and the compressed lifting agent up through the tubing. The

sediment'chamber 10 may be of any suitable.

diameter and the lower end ofthe same is closed by a lcap 11. When the tubing is withdrawn for any purpose the cap 11 may y be detached for removing the sediment within the chamber 10.

- Each inlet or induction valve 9 has a flow vpassage 12 of the same diameter and crosssectional formation as the bore of the tubing to provide an even passage for the alternate slugs of oil and compressed lifting Huid. .'It might be added at this point that the successful operation of the invention is dependent in a measure at leaston the provision ,of smooth passages for the alternate slugs of lifting and lifted fluids. The lifting fluid is, ofcourse, previously compressed gas or air introduced into the tubing by way of the induction valves and if a body of the lifting fiuid is broken up during its move- ,ment through the tubing its ability to further elevate the oil is immediately destroyed. yThe result will be the descent of a slug of oil formerly sustained and elevated by the lifting fluid, be it gas or air.

vIn the above connection it is noted that the continuation 14 of the tubing has a very gradually bent elbow 15 to aid in conducting the How to the desired point. The very gradual curvature of the elbow 15 offers 'little resistance and obstruction to the flow of the fluid as will be appreciated. i

Returning to a consideration of Figure 3 1t will be seen that each induction valve 9 has a valve chamber 17 in communication /therey with whereby the lifting medium such asI compressed gas or air may be introduced into the tubing from the casing. More specifi-` cally the longitudinally extending' valve chamber 17 has an inlet tube and valve seat 20 threaded therein and having the upper end thereofformedy with a seat 22 for en# gagement by a tapered valve head 24 on the lower end of a spiral valve body 26.

The spiralbody 26 is provided at the up` per end. thereof with a vtapered valve head 28 `adapted for contact with the seat 30 of an outlet tube and valve seat 32. When the head 28 is engaged with the seat 30 the admission of additional lifting fluid such as compressed air or gas to the tubing by way of a particular induction valve is prevented. The admission of a compressed liftinguid -to the vtubing by Way of a particular valve the head 28 into sealing engagement with the seat 30. Therefore, it will b e seen that the free inrush of 'air through a particular passage 17 is only momentary. The compressed lifting fluid supplied by way of the member 32 enters an annular supply chamber. 34 in the flared lower portion of the section 36 of the induction valve. Figure 3 clearly illustrates that the upper section 36 is provided with a depending flange 38 which defines the inner wall of the annular chamber 34 and which is spaced from the upper end of the body of the inductin v alve a suflicient distance to cooperate with the same in the format-ion of 4an annular jet by which air is admittedto the tubing about the entire periphery of the column of oil in the tubing.

The arrangement of the annular jet by which the compressed lifting fluid is suplied to the tubing permits of the admission of sufficient lifting fluid tothe tubing in a comparativel short interval to p'ermitvof the `formation o what might be said to be a complete lifting unit. In -other words, al-l most immediately upon the admission of a predetermined volume of a compressed liftiriig .agent to the tubing, the same becomes e ective as an oil flowingmedium.

The above represents an important advantage over stage lift flowing devices which supply a compressed lifting agent to the tubin from a single point so that the various bu bles of lifting avent must unite in their upward movement before they can become effective as a lifting medium. The admis. sion of a compressed lifting agent from a single point 4may also` be objectionable t0 some users on the ground that cutting of the oil will result. l

Further consideration of Figure 3` will clearly show that the depending flange 38 in addition to defining one wall or side of the annular jet also acts as a protecting medium for the member 32. Mud sediment or the like settlingin the tubing can not lodge on the nozzle since the flange 38 is spaced a substantial distance in from the same. Also the lower edge of the flange 38 is beveled inwardly vas shown at 40. Before mud, sediment or the like can accumulate in sufiicient quantity to interfere with the normal funetioning of thev induction valve, gravity will assert itself and the mud, sediment et cetera, will move down into the sediment chamber. ln this connection gravity will be assisted by the inrushing air from the chamber 34.

' The manufacture of. an induction valve as shown in Figure 3 is greatly simplified by making the same in two sections which are threaded as illustrated. The threading of opposite ends of the valve chamber 17 for' the members 20 and '32 is a very simple matter since this may be accomplished before the two sections of the induction valves arey connected.

The lower portion ofthe induction valve may be cored out as indicated at 41 to provide a convenient start-ing place to either drill or ream the valve chamber. The eX* tended upper portion of the member 32 may be hexagonal or otherwise' shaped for engagement by a wrench.

In the `installation of the improved stage lift flowing device one of the valves for the compressed lifting fluid may, be placed approximatel 450 feet from the surface and from 450 eet down to about 1050 feet one valve may be placed at every 120 feet. From 1050 feet to 1450 feet the valves maybe approximately 100 feet apart.

From 14.50 feet to 1690 feet the valves may 'lun advantageously be 80 feet apart and 4below l' 1690 feet the valves may be placed approximately 60 'feet from each other.

Below the inlet valves for the lifting agent a check valve 140 may be located to retain in the tubing the oil that may not have been blown out in the flowing process. It is important to note that when the valve heads 24 are seated .the same cooperate with the check valve 140 in retaining oil in the tubing. Necessarily some oil will settle back after a `well has flowed, unless anunnecessary amount of gas is wasted to perfectly clean-the tubing.' There is no reason why the oil should be allowed to settle back into the well eXteriorly of the tubing and build up a back pressure against the `oil seeking to come into the well. For that reason the check valve 140 is employed. Furthermore, oil which is allowed-to flow back into the well exteriorly of the tubing not only wastes energy, but alsoV results in agitation which assists in liberating the lighter properties of crude oil. Therefore 'the check valve prevents unnecessary back pressure on the sands, avoids agitation and Y loss of energy.

The oil enters the tubing by way of inlets liza 51. As the level of the oil in the 'tubing is about 300 feet above thel level of the oil in the casing several valves will be exposed to permit of the admission of compressed air or gas to the tubino at a point below the level of the oil therein.

The highly compressed lifting agent or fluid which enters by way of the passage 17 does not expand until it enters the tubing and rises somewhat and it is this expansion and consequent pressure which is relied on to bring the oil' to the surface. The compressed lifting agent during its passage thru the valve chamber 17 partakes of no appreci.

able expansion. This is true because of the resistance resulting from-the presence of a higher column of oil in the tubing than in the casing. In other words expansion of the lifting agent is resisted by the headof oil in the tubing, but such expansion does, however, take place after the lifting fluid enters the tubing.

When the level of oil in the tubing drops below a particular valve, the free inrush of air or gas by way of the passage 17 will Vresult in the expansion of the air or gas` while still in the passage 17 with the result that the spiral body 26 will be moved from a slightly elevated position to a completely elevated position to close the member 32 and thereb cut olf the further supply of air to the tu ing by way of that valve. In other words, so long as the level of fluid is above a particular valve, the valve body 26 will rise only slightly under the influence of the compressed fluid and when the fluid drops below a particular inlet valve the valve head 28 is immediately seated to cut off the admission of additional compressed air or gas by way of that valve.

The spiral body 26 hasba free working lit l within the passage 17, but the valve heads 24 and 28 are somewhat less in diameter than the diameter of the passage 17 to allow of the free passage of air or gas into the tubing. The contact of the vcompressed fluid with the spiral body will cause the spiral body to-rapidly rotate with the result that the valve seats at opposite ends of the chamber 17 and the valve heads are kept ground in at all` times. Sufficient sand is v' present in the well to supply the necessary therefore, not ground at such points. For this reason a ball valve soon wears into some- .ball being comparatively stationary and,v

what of an elliptical form and unfit for completely effecting a good seal.

In operation a highly compressed lifting fluid is introduced into the casing and should it be that the oil within the tubing extends to within four or five hundred feet of the surface the uppermost valve may be relied on to admit sufficient (compressed fluid to blow the oil above the same to the surface.

As the level of oil drops additional valves come into play and the rapid rush ofair or gas through a particular valve chamber 17, due to the drop in the level of oil in the tubing, willlresultin the movement of the valve head 28 to closed position to render that valve inoperative for the present. This action', however, never occurs until the fluid level inthe well has been lowered to a point where at least the next valve is exposed. Compressed air or gas `then enters at the lowermost exposed valve until the oil above that valve has been blown out through the tubing. The next valve below has then become exposed by the drop of the level of the fluid within the casing exteriorly of the tubing and that valve will come into play.

This process will continue until the level of the fluid outside of the'tubing has been lowered to the level of the perforations 51. W'hen the perforations 51 are exposed, the well, of course, is pumped off and the pressure of the air or gas will be quickly relieved through these perforations. When the pressure of the air or gas is thus rapidly decreased the automatic valve illustrated in Figure l will terminate the flowing operation. It will be observed that there is a passage 60 establishing communication between the casing and the automatic control valve.

By way of example, it might be pointed out that if there are 200 pounds 4of air or gas in the easing and 50 pounds of back pressure in the tubing there will be 150 pounds of air or gas capable of lifting 500 feet of oil at 30l pounds to the hundred feet. Therefore, if the valves are spacedapproxr mately v100 feet apart below the level of the oil within the tubing five valves may be exposed and all of these valves would be closed except the lower one or two because the back pressure there would not admit air or gas fast enough to close ,the lower valves, but would admit enough highly compressed air or gas to flow the oilfrom the tubing above. In other words, .the fluid having the lifting force may enter the tubing only at points where substantial heads of oil are en'- countered.

Compressed air or as entering through a l after it enters the tubing is relied on to lift the head of fluid. v

With 100 pounds' of effective pressure, that is, exclusive of back pressure in the casing, and the level ofthe oil in the tubing is 800 feet above the level of the oil in the casing, several valves in the tubing will be exposed to the admission of air or gas below the surface of Lthe oil in the tubing and the compressed air or gas would enter by way of .the exposed valves and expand below slugs of oil, which expansion and consequent lifting is accelerated as the air or gas ap-v proaches the surface. l

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An induction valve for well pumps comprising a cylindrical body having a pair of sections, one of which has a depending flange and a flared portion cooperating in theiformation of. an annular chamber, there being means whereby said flared portion and the other section may be detachably con-` nected, the other of said sections having a valve chamber, inlet and outlet valve seats detachably secured in the ends of the valve chamber and havingiuid passages, and a lvalve between said seats'.

2.^An induction valve for Well. pumps '34 comprising a hollow body having a pair of sections, one of which has a depending flangeand a flared portion cooperating in the formation of an annular chamber, there being means whereby .said flared portion and the other section may be detachably connected, the other of said sections havingl a valve chamber, inlet and outlet valve seats detachably secured in the valve chamber and having fluid passages, and-a valve between said seats, the outlet valve seat bein provided with a nozzle extending into t e annular chamber to a point beyond theplane of the free edge of said flange.

3. An induction valve for well pumps comprising a body having a pair of sections arranged end to end and having communicating bores forming a passage-for the products of a well, one of the sections being formed with an annular chamber encircling said passageand communicating therewith, the other section being formed with a valve chamber communicating with said annular chamber, and a valve in said valve chamber,

said valve chamber being provided with a 60 nozzle extending into said annular chamber. n In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

` ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

